Cradle attachment for head protective equipment



Nov. 17, 1964 M. N. ANDERSON 3,156,922

CRADLE ATTACHMENT FOR HEAD PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Filed Dec. 7, 1961 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 17, 1964 M. N. ANDERSON 3,156,922

CRADLE ATTACHMENT FOR HEAD PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Filed Dec. 7. 1961 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

United States Patent Ivlarshall N. Anderson, Grayslalte, Eli, assign-orto Salish-ens Manufacturing tlornpany, Palatine, ill., a corporation ofIllinois Filed :Ciec. 7, i961, Ser. No. 157,637 4 tllaixns. (El. 2 3)This invention relates to head protective equipment and moreparticularly to cradle attachment for use with h ad protectiveequipment.

There are on the market today various types of head protective equipmentsuch as welders masks, safety caps, skull guards and similar hard hatswhich have within them cradles for suspending the hat upon the of thewearer. It is, of course, desirable that such protective headgear belight in weight to avoid causing discomfort to the wearer. Obviously,therefore, the cradle attachment employed with such protective headgearshould also be light in weight as well as simple in construction andreadily adjustable to fit various head sizes.

Thus, it is one of the objects of this invention to provide a cradleattachment for head protective equipment possessing the aforementioneddesiderata.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cradle attachment forhead protective equipment which does not involve a plurality of partsbut which can be inexpensively produced in one piece by molding.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a cradleattachment for head protective equipment which permits rapid a sembly ofthe cradle within the head protector and which may be readily adjustedwith minimum effort so as to fit a variety of head sizes.

These objects, together with additional objects and advantages of thepresent invention will become apparent from the following detaileddescription and from the ac companying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the cradle attachment of the presentinvention showing the cradle head band in separated unlocked position.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the cradle head bandshowing the ends thereof in overlying locked position.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view of one end of the cradle head band having aslot and spaced apertures therein.

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the portion of the cradle head band shown inFIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged view of the opposite end or" the cradle headband having thereon a pair of flange members and an upstandingprotuberance whereby attachment is made with the opposite end of saidhead band.

FIGURE 6 is a side view of the portion of the cradle head band shown inFIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a side view in elevation taken on line 7-7 of FIGURE 1 ofone of the members provided on each side of the novel cradle attachmentof the invention by means of which it is attached to a head protector.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the free ends of the sidestraps which together form the cralle head strap.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary perspective view taken on a line 9-9 of FIGURE1.

Referring now to the drawings, the cradle attachment it of the presentinvention is formed or" straps of relatively still, yet bendablematerial such as polyethylene or the like, and comprises acircumferentially extensible head band 12. of substantially rectangularconfiguration looped in circular fashion. The opposite ends 13 and ofhead band 12 are adapted to lie in overlapping relationship. Preferablythe thickness of head band 12 is varied with the end portions 13 and 14thereof having a reduced atented Nov. l7, lhddthickness as compared withthe intermediate portion thereof so that when the ends are in overlappedposition excess thickness is avoided without the sacrifice of desiredstrength. One end l3 of the head band 12 is provided with an enlargedterminal portion 15 having a straight edge, radially inwardly contouredtip 16 and a triangularly shaped slot 18 formed therein. The end 13 ofhead band 12 is formed with a neck portion 29 of reduced width adjacentthe terminal portion 15. A plurality of centrally aligned spacedapertures 22 are provided also within end 13 of head band 12.

The other end 14 of head band 12 carries a pair of flanges and 26 whichextend upwardly from the surface of the head band 12 and have inwardlyextending ip portions 27 and 23 respectively. A button or stud 39carried on end 14- of head band 12 is adapted to reside in any one ofthe apertures 22 for adjustment purposes as shown in FIGURE 2.

Intermediate the end portions 13 and 14, head band 12 is provided withtwo enlarged side portions 32 and 34 from which extend generallyvertical straps 36 and 38. The score and crease lines 39 which areprovided at the junctures of each of the vertical straps 36 and 33 andthe enlarged side portions 32 and 34 enable the head strap to hingedlyconform to the wearers head. The vertical straps 36 and 38 have theirfree ends adapted for movement relative to each other and to lie inoverlapping relationship when in locked position. Struck-out from eachof the side portions 32 and 34 but firmly attached thereto areprotuberances or ears 4i and 42. The ears dll and 42 extend at aninclined angle from the side portions 32 and 34 so that the free endsthereof are olfset outwardly from head band 12. As shown in FIGURES 7and 9, a recessed portion ll is provided on the inner or head side ofeach of the side portions 32 and 34 with the marginal portions ofprotuberances ll) and 42. extending beyond and joining the side portionsabove the portion 4-1 to provide maximum strength at this juncture. Thefree end of each of the ears 4-0 and 4?. is provided with asubstantially circular disk 44 or 46, which is formed with an apertureto receive plastic or metal fittings when the cradle attachment isattached to the head protective equipment. A pair of lugs 52 and 5dspaced apart approximately 180 are provided on the outer periphery ofeach disk 4a or 46 to limit pivoting of the head protective equipmentrelative to the cradle attachment therefor.

The free end of vertical strap 36, see FIGURE 8, is provided with agenerally rectangular lip 56 having sides 57 through which the lip isattached. The lip 56 lying in a plane below and being outwardly offsetfrom the end of strap 36 forms therewith a slot 58 through which thefree end of strap 38 is threaded when assembling the head strap. Alongitudinally extending generally rectangular slot 5 and a plurality ofspaced aligned apertures 643 are also provided on the strap 36. The freeend of strap 38 carries a button or stud 62 which is adapted to residein any one of the apertures 60 to lock the vertical straps together inoverlying relationship thereby forming a unitary head strap which restson the top of the wearers head.

Adjustment of the cradle to the head size of the wearer is accomplishedby threading the end 14 of head band 12 over the contoured lip 16 andthrough slot 18 within the enlarged terminal portion 15 of head band 12.To facilitate entry into slot 18 the end portion 14- can be intro ducedtherein while the ends 13 and 14 of head band 12 are angularly disposedrelative to each other. The flange members 2d and 2d are then engagedwith the reduced neck portion Ell with the inwardly projecting lips 27and 23 on the flanges forming a channel in which the free end 13 of headband 1 2 is slidably received. The end portions 13 and M of head band l2are then moved relative to oneness each other so that the head bandcomfortably fits the head of thejwearer. The head band 12 is locked inthe proper position by the insertion of button as carried by end i iinto the correspondingly aligned apertures 22 within end 13 of head band12.

Likewise, the cradle head strap is adjusted so that it rests comfortablyon the head of the wearer by sliding the free end of vertical strap overthe lip 56 provided on vertical strap 36 and through the slot 58therein, the upstanding button 62 being received within the longitudinalslot 59. By depressing the button 62. so as to free it from slot 59 thestraps 36 and 33 can be moved relative to each other to achieve adesired adjustment of the head strap. The head strap can then be lockedin the proper position by the insertion of the button 62 as apositioning anchor into a correspondingly aligned aperture as.

It will be noted from the above description of the ,resent inventionthat a novel cradle attachment is provided for head protectors normallyused in hazardous occupations. The novel cradle attachment is light inweight, simple in construction and is produced in one piece by molding.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my prior application,Serial Number 139,975, filed September 22, 1961, now abandoned.

Those modifications and equivalents which fall Within the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claims are to be considered partof the invention.

I claim:

1. In head protective equipment a detachable cradle comprising acircumferentially extensible head band having the ends thereof adaptedfor lying in overlapped relationship, one end of said head band having aneck portion of reduced width adjacent to an enlarged terminal portionhaving a slot therein through which the distal end of said head band canbe threaded, said end of the head band being provided also with aplurality of spaced aligned apertures, the distal end of said head bandcarrying a pair upwardly and inwardly extending flange members adaptedto form a channel for reception of one end of said head band and anupstanding protuberance thereon adapted to reside within the spacedapertures located on said head band, said head band having two enlargedside portions thereon spaced apart approximately 180, each of saidenlarged side portions having integrally connected thereto an outwardlyand angularly extending protuberance, the free end of said protuberancebenig spaced laterally from said band and being provided with a roundeddisk member having an aperture therein for receiving fastening means forattachment to the head protective equipment, said disl; member having apair of spaced apart lugs on the periphery thereof to limit the pivotalmovement of the cradle attachment with respect to the head protectiveequipment, a head strap adapted to rest on the head of the wearercomprising a pair of substantially vertically extending strapsconnecting with the enlarged side portions on said head band and havingthe free ends thereof adapted for lying in overlapped relationship, thefree end of one of the said vertically extending straps being providedat its terminal end with a generally rectangular lip lying in a planebelow and projecting outwardly therefrom so as to define a transverseslot between said lip and the end of said vertical strap and beingprovided also with a longitudinally extending slot and a plurality ofspaced aligned apertures, the other vertically extending strap beingprovided with an upstanding protuberance adapted to reside within thespaced apertures provided within the first mentioned verticallyextending strap.

2. In head protective equipment a detachable cradle comprising acircumferentially extensible head band having the ends thereof ofreduced thickness as compared with the intermediate portion of the headband and adapted for lying in overlapping relationship, one end of saidhead band having a neck portion of reduced width and being provided witha plurality of spaced aligned apertures and an enlarged terminal portionhaving a slot therein through wihch the distal end of said head band canbe threaded, the distal end of said head band carrying a pair ofupwardly and inwardly extending flange members adapted to form a orannel for reception of one end or said head band and an upstandingprotuberance thereon adapted to reside within the spaced apertureslocated on said head band, said head band having two enlarged sideportions thereon spaced apart approximately 180, each of said enlargedside portions having integrally connected thereto an outwardly andangularly extending protuberance, the free end of said protuberancebeing spaced laterally trom said band and being provided with anaperture for receiving fastening means for attachment to the headprotective equipment, a head strap adapted to rest on the head of thewearer comprising a pair of substantially vertically extending strapsintegrally connected with the enlarged side portions on said headbandand having the free ends thereof adapted for lying in overlappedrelationship, a portion of the said vertical strap forming theconnection with the headband having a reduced cross section comparingwith the main body of the vertical strap so as to facilitate bendingbetween the vertical strap and the enlarged portion of the headband, thefree end of one of the said vertically extending straps being providedat its terminal end with a generally rectangular lip lying in a planebelow and outwardly offset therefrom so as to define a transverse slotbetween said lip and the end of said vertical strap and being providedalso with a longitudinally or riding slot and a plurality of spacedaligned apertures, the other vertically extending strap being providedwith an upstanding protuberance adapted to reside within the spacedapertures provided within the first mentioned vertically extendingstrap.

3. in head protective equipment, a molded one piece cradle comprising acircumferentially extensible head encircling band having end portionsadapted to interlock with one another to form a substantially continuousband, one end portion having a neck of reduced width and being providedwith an enlarged slotted segment, and a plurality of longitudinallyspaced apertures, the second end portion being insertable through saidone end portion slotted seg ment and being provide with a firstprotuberance for se lective disposition within one of saidlongitudinally spaced apertures and a pair of second relatively spacedprotuberances between which a section of said one end portion ispositionable, said pair of second protuberances being spaced a greaterdistance from the end limit of said second end portion than said firstprotuberance; a pair of relatively spaced strap-like sections extendingtransversely from said head-encircling band, said strap-like sectionshaving the free ends thereof adapted to interlock with one another toform a substantially continuous head-overlying strap, the free endportion of one strap-like section being slotted and provided with aplurality of longitudinally spaced openings, the free end portion of thesecond straplil'e section being insertable through said slotted segmentof said one strap-like section and provided with a protuberance forselective disposition with one of said longitudinally spaced openings;each strap-like section being provided with a foldable segment adjacentthe head encircling band to efiect flexure of said strap-like section toconform substantially to the head shape of the wearer.

4. The cradle recited in claim 3 wherein the free end portion of thestrap-like section which is slotted is provided with a lip which isdisposed in a plane ofifset from the surface of the section adjacent thehead of the wearer, said lip being substantially the same Width as theremainder of said section end portion and cooperating therewith to forma transverse slot through which the other straplike section end portionis adapted to be inserted, the remainder of said section end portiondelimiting said transverse slot being provided with an elongatedlongitudinally extending notch which communicates at one end with saidtransverse slot, said notch being adapted to accomslot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS488,017 Lang et a1 Dec. 13, 1892 1,082,848 Dargin Dec. 30, 19131,341,406 Ade May 25, 1920 0 Wilson Oct. 7, 1941 Seitz Nov. 18, 1947Huntsman Feb. 15, 1949 Sprinkle Apr. 19, 1955 Ouirnet June 21, 1960Archbold Ian. 16, 1962 Larson Mar. 20, 1962 Gurtowski July 3, 1962Lindblom Jan. 29, 1953

1. IN HEAD PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT A DETACHABLE CRADLE COMPRISING ACIRCUMFERENTIALLY EXTENSIBLE HEAD BAND HAVING THE ENDS THEREOF ADAPTEDFOR LYING IN OVERLAPPED RELATIONSHIP, ONE END OF SAID HEAD BAND HAVING ANECK PORTION OF REDUCED WIDTH ADJACENT TO AN ENLARGED TERMINAL PORTIONHAVING A SLOT THEREIN THROUGH WHICH THE DISTAL END OF SAID HEAD BAND CANBE THREADED, SAID END OF THE HEAD BAND BEING PROVIDED ALSO WITH APLURALITY OF SPACED ALIGNED APERTURES, THE DISTAL END OF SAID HEAD BANDCARRYING A PAIR UPWARDLY AND INWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGE MEMBERS ADAPTEDTO FORM A CHANNEL FOR RECEPTION OF ONE END OF SAID HEAD BAND AND ANUPSTANDING PROTUBERANCE THEREON ADAPTED TO RESIDE WITHIN THE SPACEDAPERTURES LOCATED ON SAID HEAD BAND, SAID HEAD BAND HAVING TWO ENLARGEDSIDE PORTIONS THEREON SPACED APART APPROXIMATELY 180*, EACH OF SAIDENLARGED SIDE PORTIONS HAVING INTEGRALLY CONNECTED THERETO AN OUTWARDLYAND ANGULARLY EXTENDING PROTUBERANCE, THE FREE END OF SAID PROTUBERANCEBEING SPACED LATERALLY FROM SAID BAND AND BEING PROVIDED WITH A ROUNDEDDISK MEMBER HAVING AN APERTURE THEREIN FOR RECEIVING FASTENING MEANS FORATTACHMENT TO THE HEAD PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, SAID DISK MEMBER HAVING APAIR OF SPACED APART LUGS ON THE PERIPHERY THEROF TO LIMIT THE PIVOTALMOVEMENT OF THE CRADLE ATTACHMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE HEAD PROTECTIVEEQUIPMENT, A HEAD STRAP ADAPTED TO REST ON THE HEAD OF THE WEARERCOMPRISING A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY EXTENDING STRAPSCONNECTING WITH THE ENLARGED SIDE PORTIONS ON SAID HEAD BAND AND HAVINGTHE FREE ENDS THEREOF ADAPTED FOR LYING IN OVERLAPPED RELATIONSHIP, THEFREE END OF ONE OF THE SAID VERTICALLY EXTENDING STRAPS BEING PROVIDEDAT ITS TERMINAL END WITH A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR LIP LYING IN A PLANEBELOW AND PROJECTING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM SO AS TO DEFINE A TRANSVERSESLOT BETWEEN SAID LIP AND THE END OF SAID VERTICAL STRAP AND BEINGPROVIDED ALSO WITH A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SLOT AND A PLURALITY OFSPACED ALIGNED APERTURES, THE OTHER VERTICALLY EXTENDING STRAP BEINGPROVIDED WITH AN UPSTANDING PROTUBERANCE ADAPTED TO RESIDE WITHIN THESPACED APERTURES PROVIDED WITHIN THE FIRST MENTIONED VERTICALLYEXTENDING STRAP.